Four Hagerstown Fire Department members were honored at a banquet Saturday night for rescuing two people from two separate blazes in the city last year and this year. Charles Mundey, Joseph Chojnacki, Daniel Myers, and Allen Carpenter were honored during the banquet at the Fraternal Order of Eagles club at 18 N. Locust St., officials said. Hosted by the Hagerstown Professional Fire Fighters IAFF Local 1605, the banquets are held periodically when a group of firefighters are retiring, city fire department spokesman Scott Baire said.

GREENCASTLE, Pa. - The Greencastle Rescue Hose Co. this week is hosting the 105th Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen's Association convention with attendees expected to travel from several states. "We expect 100 to 150 (people) to register over the three-day period," said Ray Mowen, chairman of the 15-member organizing committee that has been working on plans for two years. Participants from Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Delaware will discuss new practices, while also holding events that are open to the public.

The Hagerstown Fire Department has promoted three firefighters to the rank of shift captain. Hagerstown Fire Chief W. Kyd Dieterich said in a news release that before they were promoted, Russell Daiello, Adam Hopkins and Trayer Stoops completed an extensive three-day process, which included a written test, a resume evaluation and an assessment by professional fire personnel from other local jurisdictions. “They have served the Hagerstown Fire Department well, and we are confident they will be an even greater asset to our operations in their capacity as shift captains,” Dieterich said.

Fire department volunteer charged MERCERSBURG, Pa. - A man who volunteered with the Mercersburg, Montgomery, Peters & Warren Volunteer Fire Co. has been charged with breaking into the fire station and vandalizing it, according to a Pennsylvania State Police press release. Paul Jennings, 19, of 11 Oregon St. in Mercersburg, was charged with burglary, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, institutional vandalism, underage drinking, unauthorized use or opening of fire hydrants and two counts of injuring or tampering with fire apparatus, police said.

Bracelets help kids to be seen CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Trick-or-treaters can add a special glow-in-the-dark bracelet to their costumes tonight, courtesy of the Chamberburg Fire Department. Chief Allen Baldwin said this is the fourth year the department will pass out the light green bracelets on Halloween. "The main reason for it is to promote safety during trick-or-treat night," Baldwin said. He said the bracelets make kids collecting candy after dark more visible to traffic.

MERCERSBURG, Pa. ? A man who volunteered with the Mercersburg, Montgomery, Peters & Warren Volunteer Fire Co. has been charged with breaking into the fire station and vandalizing it, police said. Pennsylvania State Police said Paul Jennings, 19, of 11 Oregon St., Mercersburg, entered the fire station at about 12:45 a.m. Wednesday. While inside, he allegedly used a fire hydrant wrench to break two windows on a medical aid vehicle and the rear windows of an ambulance, police said in a news release.

The question: A reader contacted The Herald-Mail wondering why firetrucks and firefighters were gathered at Fairgrounds Park in Hagerstown on Oct. 22 for what appeared to be an athletic game. The reader wrote that firetrucks are at the park often and also have been seen in nonemergency situations at other places around the community, such as a grocery store. The response: Doug DeHaven, Hagerstown's acting fire chief, said the city's professional firefighters usually go to Fairgrounds Park for about 60 to 90 minutes a day for physical training.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. -- Three of Berkeley County's five volunteer fire department chiefs were hired by the Berkeley County Commission on Thursday to work full-time for the county as firefighter/hazardous material technicians. William T. "Tommy" Newcomb of Bedington, Daniel L. Petry of Back Creek Valley and Martin D. "Marty" Roberts of Baker Heights volunteer fire departments were chosen from nine people interviewed for the new positions. Their employment with the Berkeley County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (OHSEM)

chambersburg@herald-mail.com More than 1,000 firefighters and emergency services personnel are expected to attend a memorial service Saturday for Shippensburg firefighter Keith Hess, who died in a Huntingdon County, Pa., blaze earlier this week. By Thursday afternoon, an estimated 75 to 100 companies had notified Franklin County Emergency Management Coordinator Don Eshleman Jr. of their intent to attend the service. "They're coming from as far as Ohio to southern Maryland and Virginia," Eshleman said.

HAGERSTOWN marlob@herald-mail.com A fire in a two-story house near Dual Highway drew a second alarm Sunday night because of the need for more firefighters to help bring it under control. The first call went out around 9:45 p.m. when a neighbor at 1516 Howell Road reported a fire at the house across the road, fire officials said. Firefighters from Funkstown and Hagerstown arrived on the scene and found flames showing along the roof line in the front of the house.

The Hagerstown Fire Department has promoted three firefighters to the rank of shift captain. Hagerstown Fire Chief W. Kyd Dieterich said in a news release that before they were promoted, Russell Daiello, Adam Hopkins and Trayer Stoops completed an extensive three-day process, which included a written test, a resume evaluation and an assessment by professional fire personnel from other local jurisdictions. “They have served the Hagerstown Fire Department well, and we are confident they will be an even greater asset to our operations in their capacity as shift captains,” Dieterich said.

The question: A reader contacted The Herald-Mail wondering why firetrucks and firefighters were gathered at Fairgrounds Park in Hagerstown on Oct. 22 for what appeared to be an athletic game. The reader wrote that firetrucks are at the park often and also have been seen in nonemergency situations at other places around the community, such as a grocery store. The response: Doug DeHaven, Hagerstown's acting fire chief, said the city's professional firefighters usually go to Fairgrounds Park for about 60 to 90 minutes a day for physical training.

Although it's a few months later than originally hoped, Antietam Fire Co. officials said Wednesday their move to Potomac Avenue in Hagerstown's North End could be completed in three to four weeks. Antietam Fire Co. President Ron Horn said some unexpected costs during the company's $400,000 renovation of the former Four Seasons RV building at 790-800 Potomac Ave. have delayed the process. “We've had to cut a lot of our construction costs out because it was just too costly to stay within budget,” Horn said.

Four Hagerstown Fire Department members were honored at a banquet Saturday night for rescuing two people from two separate blazes in the city last year and this year. Charles Mundey, Joseph Chojnacki, Daniel Myers, and Allen Carpenter were honored during the banquet at the Fraternal Order of Eagles club at 18 N. Locust St., officials said. Hosted by the Hagerstown Professional Fire Fighters IAFF Local 1605, the banquets are held periodically when a group of firefighters are retiring, city fire department spokesman Scott Baire said.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. -- Three of Berkeley County's five volunteer fire department chiefs were hired by the Berkeley County Commission on Thursday to work full-time for the county as firefighter/hazardous material technicians. William T. "Tommy" Newcomb of Bedington, Daniel L. Petry of Back Creek Valley and Martin D. "Marty" Roberts of Baker Heights volunteer fire departments were chosen from nine people interviewed for the new positions. Their employment with the Berkeley County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (OHSEM)

Fire department volunteer charged MERCERSBURG, Pa. - A man who volunteered with the Mercersburg, Montgomery, Peters & Warren Volunteer Fire Co. has been charged with breaking into the fire station and vandalizing it, according to a Pennsylvania State Police press release. Paul Jennings, 19, of 11 Oregon St. in Mercersburg, was charged with burglary, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, institutional vandalism, underage drinking, unauthorized use or opening of fire hydrants and two counts of injuring or tampering with fire apparatus, police said.

GREENCASTLE, Pa. - The Greencastle Rescue Hose Co. this week is hosting the 105th Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen's Association convention with attendees expected to travel from several states. "We expect 100 to 150 (people) to register over the three-day period," said Ray Mowen, chairman of the 15-member organizing committee that has been working on plans for two years. Participants from Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Delaware will discuss new practices, while also holding events that are open to the public.

HAGERSTOWN marlob@herald-mail.com A fire in a two-story house near Dual Highway drew a second alarm Sunday night because of the need for more firefighters to help bring it under control. The first call went out around 9:45 p.m. when a neighbor at 1516 Howell Road reported a fire at the house across the road, fire officials said. Firefighters from Funkstown and Hagerstown arrived on the scene and found flames showing along the roof line in the front of the house.

chambersburg@herald-mail.com More than 1,000 firefighters and emergency services personnel are expected to attend a memorial service Saturday for Shippensburg firefighter Keith Hess, who died in a Huntingdon County, Pa., blaze earlier this week. By Thursday afternoon, an estimated 75 to 100 companies had notified Franklin County Emergency Management Coordinator Don Eshleman Jr. of their intent to attend the service. "They're coming from as far as Ohio to southern Maryland and Virginia," Eshleman said.

Bracelets help kids to be seen CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Trick-or-treaters can add a special glow-in-the-dark bracelet to their costumes tonight, courtesy of the Chamberburg Fire Department. Chief Allen Baldwin said this is the fourth year the department will pass out the light green bracelets on Halloween. "The main reason for it is to promote safety during trick-or-treat night," Baldwin said. He said the bracelets make kids collecting candy after dark more visible to traffic.